a/n: sorry it took me a few extra days to post this! but the chapter is almost 5k words longer, so i like to think that makes up for the wait ~
Stiles should have known that at the end of basically the most amazing weekend of his entire life would come a Monday at work where he would have to watch Jackson almost get crushed trying to get to a six year old trapped in the backseat after a car accident, Scott almost falling off a tree and breaking his neck after trying to rescue a kitten, and Danny almost pricking himself with a used needle trying to calm down the person he was treating.
Really.
He should have.
Because all of this shouldn't have come as a surprise, not considering the kind of luck he has.
But he can still say this was one of the worst days he's had in a while, and as he and Danny basically throw themselves on one of the couches in the rec room and close their eyes, he knows he's not the only one feeling like shit.
Especially when Scott and Jackson show up next, both of them looking as haggard as Danny and Stiles feel.
"Fuck, I can't wait to go home," Scott sighs, flopping down on the couch with his head on Stiles' lap and his legs thrown over Danny's.
"We only have about fifteen minutes left," Danny says, pushing Scott off of him until he's forced to sit down, rolling his eyes at the kicked puppy look Scott sends him.
"Dispatch could call in fifteen minutes," Jackson grumbles as he sits down on a chair in front of them, scrubbing a hand over his face.
"If that happens I'm blaming you," Stiles tells him, flashing him a small and tired grin when Jackson flips him off.
"At least Valentine's Day was three days ago," Scott points out, always trying to look for the bright side of any situation. "Imagine if all of this had happened Friday and we had to go home and celebrate afterwards."
They grimace.
To say it wouldn't have been a good thing is an understatement.
"Speaking of which," Danny claps his hands together. "I know Lydia forced Jackson into watching movies with her before she had to go to the hospital, but what did you guys do?"
"I cooked dinner," Scott says, his lips tugging up in that dreamy and far away smile whenever he starts thinking about Allison. "And I changed the lightbulbs on the porch, because Allison doesn't like climbing the ladder anymore. I also starting working on the nursery, so everything can be ready for when the baby's born. And I gave her foot rubs whenever she asked me."
"Nice, buddy." Stiles says, lifting his hand up for a high five, which Scott takes. "I'm sure she appreciated it."
"She did," Scott nods, smile going from fond to smug in three seconds flat.
Stiles makes a face at him.
No matter how much time passes, he knows he'll never be truly comfortable hearing about what Scott and Allison get up to behind closed doors.
"Ethan and I didn't leave his apartment," Danny tells him, pursing his lips together, and not looking all that happy. "I kind of figured it'd be a good idea to pack in as much time as I can with him until Aiden gets here. And, you know, before Ethan realizes I'm the one who asked his brother to come visit and breaks up with me."
"That won't happen," Jackson tells him, bumping their feet together. "He will get mad and he'll probably refuse to talk to you for a few days, but he won't break up with you."
"As much as I hate agreeing with him, Jackson's right," Stiles says, reaching across from Scott so he can lay a hand on Danny's shoulder and completely ignoring Jackson's smug look. "Ethan loves you. And sure, there'll have to be a lot of groveling from your end, and possibly a few grand romantic gestures, but he won't break up with you."
Danny sighs, not looking very reassured, and pats the back of Stiles' hand with his fingers, "Thanks."
"I'll still let you drink all my liquor if it comes to that, though," Stiles offers, making Danny roll his eyes and smile a little.
"That's very nice of you."
"I am known for being a nice person," Stiles shrugs one shoulder.
And then scowls and pretends to look offended when Jackson, Danny, and Scott throw their heads back and laugh at him.
"What about you and Derek?" Scott asks him once they've calmed down. "I know you were pretty nervous about Valentine's."
Stiles can't really help the blood rushing to his face as soon as he starts thinking about it, nor the way his lips curl up in a smile.
His weekend was just that good.
Amazing, even.
More so than he ever thought it would be after inviting Derek to stay over until this morning, with Derek getting his celebratory blowjob the morning after Valentine's and returning the favor a while later, falling to his knees in front of Stiles as soon as they got in the shower.
The rest of Saturday was spent with both of them watching old movies, eating takeout, and with Derek, his eyebrows furrowed and lips turned down in disappointment, declaring himself a little bit too sore for them to fuck again when Stiles presented him with the digital copies of his dad's old recipes and all he could do was kiss the shit out of Stiles as thanks.
To Stiles, that was thank you enough.
He even told Derek as much between lazy kisses and light nips of teeth, tracing his thumb against the stubble on his cheek.
Derek still kind of looked like someone stole his candy, though, and Stiles couldn't have him looking that dejected.
So he ended up giving Derek a massage.
A massage that ended with both of them lying on opposites ends of the bed, side by side, with each other's dicks in their mouths.
Sunday came with both of them coming after uncoordinated handjobs - neither of them nearly awake enough to pay much attention to what they were doing -, more movies and food, and Stiles slowly fucking into Derek after they went to bed, one of his hands clutched tightly to Derek's hip, the other on Derek's dick, his teeth nipping at Derek's neck.
And this morning he got to wake up to Derek using him like a pillow, Derek's arms and legs wrapped around him, his head on Stiles' chest, and his breath ghosting over Stiles' right nipple.
There might have been some drooled involved there, too, but it's not like Stiles cared that much.
He knows it's not the right time for them yet, but having Derek in bed with him, waking up with him, spending his days with him is never going to be a bad thing.
So today might have been a day straight from hell, but that still doesn't mean he can forget how just fucking great his weekend was.
And that obviously shows on his face, his smile not dimming even a little when Jackson twists his nose up at him or Danny huffs and rolls his eyes or Scott claps him in the shoulder and looks torn between congratulating him on getting laid the entire weekend or asking him not to tell him any details.
"I take it you had a good time, then," Danny raises an eyebrow at him, eyes glinting.
"I did," Stiles nods, still smiling. "We both did. A really great time."
"Happy for you, bro," Scott squeezes his shoulder, eyes going to a point behind Stiles' head. "Oh, two minutes left."
"Good enough for me," Jackson says, bracing his hands on his knees and getting up. "You still catching a ride with me, Stilinski?"
"Yeah, man. Thanks for that."
"Don't thank me," Jackson grumbles, shaking his head when Stiles opens his mouth, "Seriously, don't even mention it."
Stiles rolls his eyes, extending his hands to Scott and Danny and pulling them up, "Come on, let's go grab our things and hope Finstock doesn't decide to stop and chat before we get to our cars."
It doesn't take them longer than ten minutes to grab their bags and make their way to the parking lot, Stiles and Jackson hugging Scott and Danny goodbye before walking to Jackson's car, silence stretching between them.
Not that Stiles minds that much.
He and Jackson have never been close, thrown together more often than not because of Danny and Lydia, and then later because of their jobs, their tentative friendship built in trading insults and seeing who can annoy the other faster.
It works for them, seeing as, you know, Stiles can be just as big of an asshole as Jackson.
And that doesn't mean they don't always have each other's backs or step up when needed, like all the times Jackson was there when Stiles inadvertently got into fights because he couldn't keep his mouth shut and all the times Stiles offered Jackson a place to crash because going back or home or crashing at Lydia and Danny's was too much for him.
So he's not really offended when Jackson turns on the radio as they drive off instead of trying to start a conversation with him, knowing that's part him being a dick and part both of them trying to unwind after a crappy day by listening to even crappier pop songs.
For his turn, Stiles can feel himself relaxing little by little the closer they get to Derek's garage, knowing that in a few minutes he'll get what he's been wanting to do since they parted ways this morning before going to work.
And by that he means hugging the shit out of Derek and not letting go for at least ten minutes.
Because he needs a hug, okay?
Today, of all days, is the day he really really really needs to just drape himself all over his boyfriend and bury his face in his neck and breathe him in and not let go until he'll feeling a little less like complete shit.
Which is exactly what he does as soon as Jackson parks, throwing a thanks, man over his shoulder as he leaves.
On his way to Derek's office, he only stops to kiss Erica on the cheek before she climbs into Jackson's car, deciding he doesn't want to know what they are up to when he notices the timid smile on Erica's face and the way she's nervously twirling a strand of her hair between her fingers.
He figures he'll find out about it sooner or later.
Derek lets out a low chuckle as Stiles unceremoniously sits down on his lap and hugs him, his arms circling around Stiles' waist and keeping him close.
"Bad day?" he asks quietly, sliding a hand up so he can rub circles across Stiles' back.
"Yes," Stiles mumbles, pressing his nose against Derek's hair and feeling a bit of today's tension seeping out of him the longer Derek holds him.
"Want to spend the night?"
Stiles nods into Derek's hair, not hesitating in giving his answer.
He knows they've spend three nights together already, but the thought of having to go back to his place and spend the night alone in bed after the day he had is not something Stiles wants to experience.
"Give me a few minutes and we'll head out, okay?"
"Okay," Stiles sighs, pulling back so he can peck Derek on the lips. "But I don't have to get up, do I?"
Derek shakes his head, their noses bumping together, "You can stay here."
So Stiles does, loosening his hold around Derek's neck so he can tangle one of his hands in Derek's hair, nails scratching lightly at his scalp as Derek works, eyes drifting shut as the minutes tick by.
It doesn't take long before Derek's done, shifting a little with Stiles on his lap so they're eye to eye. With a hand cupping his cheek, Derek angles Stiles' head so he can kiss him, just a soft press of lips at first, before nipping at his bottom lip when Stiles whines into the kiss, licking his way into Stiles' mouth.
"C'mon," Derek says when he pulls back, running his nose down Stiles' neck. "Let's go for a ride."
For the first time in months Stiles climbs behind Derek on his bike as they leave the garage, his arms winding around Derek's waist, his chest pressed close to Derek's back, and he thinks this couldn't have happened at a better time.
Because riding around town with Derek between his legs and the wind on his face is just what Stiles needed to go back to feeling like himself again.
Stiles takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, the scent of pine needles and leather and asphalt in the air relaxing like nothing else, washing away the last of his worries and helping him forget about all the bad things that happened today and how they could have been much worse.
Derek takes the long way back to his apartment, as if sensing Stiles needs that little time with nothing on his mind to regroup, every once in a while touching the back of Stiles' hand or his arm with the tips of his fingers to keep him grounded, to keep him here.
By the time Derek parks in front of his apartment building Stiles is feeling a lot more like himself, and he even manages a small smile when Derek throws an arm around his shoulders and pulls his body flush against his as they go up to his place.
But that doesn't mean he puts up a fight or complains when Derek tells him to go shower and let him worry about feeding them, placing a kiss on the corner of Derek's mouth before disappearing into the bathroom, leaving a trail of clothes behind him.
Stiles lets out a happy groan as soon as he steps under the hot water, not having a lot of energy to do more than stand there for a few minutes before washing himself quickly, the smell of Derek's body wash filling his nose.
He doesn't hesitate to rummage through Derek's drawers to find a pair of sweatpants and a shirt to wear, not bothering with underwear or socks as he pads to the kitchen, pausing mid step when he sees the boxes of frozen food on top of the counter.
"Are you serious."
"I don't think that was a question," Derek raises an eyebrow at him. "Try again."
"You're making me chicken nuggets," Stiles says, voice flat. "And mac and cheese."
Derek shrugs.
"You," Stiles tries again, slower this time. "Are making me chicken nuggets. And mac and cheese. For dinner."
"You had a bad day," Derek explains, frowning a little. "I thought this would help. But we can eat something else if you want."
Stiles blinks at Derek, and before he realizes what he's doing he's kissing him, their teeth clicking together, hands clutched to the front of Derek's shirt.
Derek lets out a little startled sound but doesn't hesitate to get on board with what's going on, getting a hand on the back of Stiles' neck and the other one of the small of his back as he leans back against the counter and lets Stiles' weight settle against him.
It's only when the timer to the oven goes off that they break apart, Stiles reluctantly letting go of Derek so he can grab the food while Stiles grabs the plates and glasses, setting them on the countertop.
Stiles tells him about his day as they eat dinner watching old episodes of The West Wing, Stiles with his legs thrown over Derek's lap and ignoring the way his boyfriend wrinkles his nose whenever Stiles makes a pass for the ketchup bottle on the coffee table and basically covers his entire plate with it.
Stiles blows him a kiss.
Derek runs a finger under the sole of Stiles' bare foot and almost drops his plate and food all over himself when Stiles barks out a laugh and flails.
It's a good night.
And by the time they're done with dinner and cleaning up and Derek is sliding behind him in bed, throwing an arm around his waist, and tangling their legs together, Stiles goes to sleep with a little smile on his face and the knowledge that to every bad day he has at work, he'll have a night with Derek to make it better.
If if those nights involve more chicken nuggets and mac and cheese, then, well, that's only a plus.
From: Derek
You left a shirt here that's stained with something that I think it's either blood or ketchup.
From: Derek
I'm not washing it.
From: Derek
Peter's coming to visit in the beginning of March.
From: Derek
And Erica just locked me out of my own office so she could talk to him on the phone.
From: Derek
I just hope that whatever it is they're up to doesn't involve me and Isaac having to wear uniforms while we're working.
From: Derek
Bumped into your dad when I was out running.
From: Derek
He asked me to let you know Mrs. McCall wants you to bring dessert to dinner this weekend.
"Oh my god, these are so tiny."
"I did make them for a baby, Stiles," Mrs. McCall tells him, arching an eyebrow at him. "You know, your best friend's daughter? My granddaughter? Ring any bells?"
Stiles ignores her in favor of sticking his fingers into the tiny blue crochet boots in front of him and doing a little walk, his lips stretching into a helpless smile as he thinks about what will be like to have an actual baby - Scott's daughter, no less - wearing them along with the blue crochet hat and half-finished white onesie Mrs. McCall brought down to show them.
The space for a sewing room his dad decided to give her in the house was a success, just like Stiles knew it would be, and Scott's mom apparently wasted no time in starting making things for the new member of their family.
Stiles is actually kind of impressed she lasted until after dessert - the chocolate brownies from one of the bakeries downtown Stiles bought and brought with him - to bring up the subject and show them what she was working on.
Especially considering Allison and Scott weren't able to come, since Mrs. McCall wants to keep what she's doing under wraps and surprise Allison with the clothes in the baby shower.
"I don't understand his fascination with baby clothes," Derek comments from where he's sitting beside Stiles on the couch, grunting when Stiles elbows him in the thigh in retaliation.
"Don't talk to me like I'm not here."
"You do seem a little busy at the moment, though," Derek says, unimpressed, pointedly staring at the baby shoes and the dance Stiles is doing with them.
"They are just so small, though," Stiles widens his eyes, looking from Derek back to the little boots in his hands. "Really small. Super small. It's kind of hard to believe someone, an actual living and breathing tiny person, will be just the right size to fit these. "
"Seeing you react like this kind of makes me worry about how you're gonna be when you have your own kids," his dad sighs in that way that means I love you but I don't know what to do with you, shaking his head at him.
The mention of him having his own kids stops Stiles short, one of the boots falling from his finger and rolling down onto the floor, his mind suddenly filled with images of a future with little kids with black hair and hazel eyes running around.
And that's-
That's kind of way too much even for him, at least at this time in their relationship, even though he knows with every fiber of his being that Derek is it for him.
Not that he doesn't want it, doesn't want kids, someday, because he does.
Really.
Whenever he imagined what his own life would look like when he was older, kids were always in the picture.
But the idea that he could have that with Derek if their relationship keeps going like Stiles wants it to keep going kind of, well, makes everything seem even more real between them.
Not that he's not aware of what they have and their feelings for each other, but to actually think that they could have this? A family? Kids?
It's kind of sweeping the ground from under his feet.
And making him equal parts really fucking happy and fucking scared out of his mind at the same time.
And it's kind of one hell of a realization to have about himself and Derek - that he wants this for him - when he's in the middle of the living room at his father's house, with his dad and Mrs. McCall and Derek right there with him.
He doesn't realize everyone's gone quiet and that his dad and Mrs. McCall are looking at him with knowing expressions on their faces until he feels Derek's hand come up behind his back, resting between his shoulderblades, the warmth of his palm seeping into his skin even through a layer of fabric.
Stiles doesn't even want to think about what kind of expression he has on his face as he turns to his boyfriend, tongue darting out to wet his lips, his mind still reeling with the implications of what he just figured out.
And what might be Derek's thoughts about it and his reaction to it.
Because his dad did just bring up in front of him the idea of Stiles having his own kids someday.
Something Stiles will keep in mind next time his dad asks him if he can bring something with real sugar in it for dessert.
Hint: the answer will be fuck no.
Stiles is so caught up silently freaking out over his epiphany that it takes him a while to see that Derek's staring at him with the same panicked surprised reflected in his eyes, his lips parted a little so that his teeth are peeking out, the tips of his ears red.
He looks scared, but he also looks hopeful, in that hesitant way of his, where he doesn't really know if it's okay for him to want the things he wants and tell other people about it.
And Stiles knows they'll have to talk about this later, when his father and Scott's mom are not in the room, about what this means to them and if it's something they really want for themselves.
You know, in the future.
The future they'll have together.
Hopefully.
But right now Stiles can't do anything other than push his fears away to give room to the blinding happiness that Derek's feeling the same way he does about all of this.
And say, "That's alright, dad. I'm sure Derek will help me."
And then smile at the way Derek blushes, from his hairline to his neck, his lips curling up in a soft smile, his eyes shining in wonder.
"I don't know," Derek says, voice cracking, the glint in his eyes showing everyone just how serious he is when he keeps going, "I think you'll do okay."
Stiles keeps smiling.
Derek smiles back.
And they totally and completely ignore Mrs. McCall patting the Sheriff on the shoulder after he sighs and mutters, "And I think I need a drink."
To: Derek
remember the car accident i told you about with the 6yo trapped in the car?
To: Derek
her parents just brought her by the firehouse with cookies and a thank you card for jackson
To: Derek
:'D
To: Derek
DEREK CHICKEN NUGGETS ARE ON SALE TODAY IS THE BEST DAY
To: Derek
lydia will probs send out an invitation but i thought i should let you know the baby shower is gonna be on march 22nd
To: Derek
so i'm sorry to say that if you have any plans to cover me in chocolate and have your wicked way with me we're gonna have to raincheck
To: Derek
aiden gets here this friday
To: Derek
and if this goes horribly wrong and you tell me you told me so or any variations of it i'll hide all of your kitchen knives
From: Derek
I'll try to restrain myself.
From: Derek
And you can tell Danny they can come to the bar if he needs neutral territory.
To: Derek
aaww thanks boo i'll let him know
From: Derek
You know who else gets here this friday?
To: Derek
?
From: Derek
Peter.
"Do you think they're okay?" Stiles whispers as he chews at him bottom lip, blinking at the closed door to Finstock's office.
"I don't know, man," Scott says quietly, brows furrowed. "Ethan looked pretty mad when he came here."
Stiles winces, because that's an understatement.
Ethan looked about ready to murder someone when he step foot into the firehouse, eyes burning with barely restrained anger as he walked up to Danny and demanded to know why the fuck he thought he had any right to ask Aiden to come to Beacon Hills.
"At least we can't hear them," Jackson offers, crossing his arms over his chest. "That means they're not screaming."
Before Danny managed to convince Ethan to step into the office so they could talk in private, they all heard when Ethan had told him, tone biting with sarcasm, what a fucking wonderful surprise it had been for him to finish one of his yoga classes and come face to face with his brother waiting for him at the receptionist's desk.
Apparently Aiden got into town a few hours earlier than planned and thought it would be a good idea to come see his brother right away, having no qualms about telling him just why exactly he decided to visit after so many missed invitations.
"I get why Ethan's mad, though," Scott says, scratching the back of his neck. "I mean, it's cool that Danny cares about him enough to want him to get along with his brother, but it was kind of a dick move on his part to force that on Ethan and not let him solve things in his own time."
"He just wants Ethan to have his family," Jackson huffs, jaw clenching. "There's nothing wrong with that."
"What's your opinion on this?" Scott turns to Stiles, who keeps biting at his bottom lip and shrugs.
"Part of the reason why I even have a relationship with Derek is because people decided my love life was their business," Stiles says honestly. "Not that that's an okay thing for people to do, but I don't really feel like I can say anything about it when it worked for me."
"It'll work for Danny," Jackson says with the kind of conviction only a best friend can have. "You'll see."
"Sooner than you'd think," Scott tilts his chin to the office in time for them to see Ethan and Danny come out.
Stiles immediately lets out a sigh of relief when he sees they're holding hands, bumping Jackson's arm with his elbow and grinning when Jackson glares back at him, but not without giving him a look that clearly says didn't I tell you?
Danny is still looking guilty as fuck, though, with his eyes cast downward and shoulder slump forward, as if he's waiting for Ethan to start tearing him a new one again every minute now.
Ethan, for his turn, looks a lot less angry than he did when he came in, the lines around his eyes making him appear more tired than anything else.
If either of them notices the audience they have, they don't show it, Ethan sighing before placing a hand on the side of Danny's neck and squeezing it. He says something to Danny that makes him nod once, and he tilts his head down to rest their foreheads together before letting go of him and walking away, stopping only to give Stiles, Jackson, and Scott a chin tilt.
The three of them waste no time going to Danny, Jackson being the first one by his side and throwing an arm around his shoulders.
"You good?"
Danny swallows, running a hand through his hair, "I'll be fine. Ethan just asked me to keep my distance until Aiden leaves. He said that that way they can try and work things out between them without him having to stop to be mad at me for doing this behind his back."
Scott gives him a sympathetic look at that, punching Danny lightly in the shoulder, "It'll be okay."
"Yeah," Danny nods, even though he doesn't look convinced. "Ethan also said that if everything turns out alright then maybe we could all hang out. So he can introduce his brother to everyone. That is, if Allison's okay with it."
Scott looks confused for about five seconds before understanding dawns, expression smoothing out as he shakes his head and says, "Dude, Allison doesn't blame him. Like, it's not like she's happy someone related to her could have done what Kate did, but she doesn't blame Ethan's brother for having a hand on getting her arrested. He was doing his job, that's it."
Danny sighs, looking like a weight was lifted off his shoulders, "Do you think you can get Allison to tell Ethan that? I think that's part of the reason why he's so angry at Aiden."
Scott nods, "I'll talk to her. See if she can say something to him after yoga."
"Thanks," Danny breathes out, slipping from under Jackson's arm so he can give Scott a hug.
"Derek said we can all go to Triskele if you need neutral territory," Stiles offers after Danny lets Scott go."And we'll all be there if you need us."
Both Jackson and Scott nod in agreement, grinning when Danny ducks his head and shifts from foot to foot, clearly uncomfortable.
He still says, "Thanks."
And then rolls his eyes when Scott and Stiles both scream group hug at the top of their lungs and wrap their arms around him and Jackson, shoulders shaking with laughter as Jackson sputters and tries to squirm away, ending up with his face smushed between Danny's shoulder and Scott's chest.
Yeah, things will be okay.
To: Derek
i have to pick up some pregnancy books for scott tomorrow and i'm volunteering you to come with me xoxo
"Why can't Scott do this on his own?" Derek asks, scowling when Stiles adds another book to the pile he's already carrying.
"It's Argent night," Stiles explains, eyes scanning the list Scott gave him with the titles he wants so he can cross another one out. "Allison's dad is coming over for dinner, and he's not one of Scott's biggest fans. Nevermind Scott's been dating his daughter for years and they have a baby on the way."
"So he needs to make sure everything's okay," Derek nods in understanding, following behind Stiles as he turns the corner to another book aisle.
"That's exactly what he nee-," Stiles cuts off, freezing in place and letting out a grunt when Derek bumps into him from behind.
The noise is enough to make Laura pull away from the man she's currently pressing back against one of the partially hidden shelves, her lips swollen and smudged with lipstick.
Stiles blinks.
Laura's eyes widen.
And the man still being pressed against the shelf, the guy Stiles assumes must be Laura's boyfriend, squares his jaw and stares right back, as if daring anyone to make him feel embarrassed about this.
Stiles' lips quirk up.
If this is the guy's reaction to being caught public and thoroughly displaying his affections for Laura, he's going to fit right in with the Hales.
"Really, Laura," Derek says flatly. "Making out with someone at a bookstore? When it's still opened for business? And where anyone can see you?"
"Shut up," Laura snaps, her cheeks coloring as she tries to right her rumpled clothes.
Stiles notices she still doesn't move away from her boyfriend, though.
Derek tuts, shaking his head, looking exactly like what a disapproving, very hairy and very muscly, grandmother would look like.
Especially when he says, "What would mother think?"
Stiles tries not to laugh at the way Laura's looking more and more like she's seriously considering grabbing a book and bashing Derek's head in for embarrassing her.
He's not that successful, though, considering the way Laura rounds on him and starts glaring.
Not that she looks particularly scary, with the way her hair is tangled in knots and she has lipstick on her chin.
"Hi, Laura," Stiles says loudly "Aren't you going to introduce us?"
"Yes, Laura," Derek's lips twitch, and it's obvious he's having way too much fun with this. "Don't be rude."
Laura curls her lips back in something that looks a lot like a snarl, but she straightens up and grabs hold of her boyfriend's hand, tangling their fingers together.
It doesn't go unnoticed by Derek and Stiles, who glance at each other before shuffling closer together and staring back at them.
"Derek, Stiles," Laura spits out their names, but her expression softens when she keeps going. "This is my boyfriend, Dr. Alex Grayson. Alex, these assholes are my brother Derek, whose murder I'll be plotting as soon as we get out of here, and his boyfriend, Stiles."
Stiles sighs and rolls his eyes when all Derek does is turn to Laura so he can scowl at her after that introduction, ignoring the siblings in favor of extending a hand and saying, "I'd say they're not always like this, but I get the feeling you know I'd be lying."
Dr. Grayson shakes Stiles' hand, grip firm, a faint and amused smile now curving at his lips, "Laura spoke to me about her family. She told me they can be quite-"
"Rude? Overbearing? Embarrassing?" Stiles offers with a cheeky grin, dropping the doctor's hand.
"I was going to say odd even though that was not the wording Laura used," he admits, flashing Stiles a quick smile.
Stiles throws his head back and laughs, knowing right then and there that he's going to like having Dr. Grayson around.
His laughter serves to give a stop to Derek and Laura's staring contest, bringing Derek's attention back to Stiles and Laura's boyfriend.
The both of them just stand there and look at each other for a few seconds, Stiles meeting Laura's eyes and making a face at how obvious their boyfriends are being at sizing each other up.
Although, Stiles has to say, he kind of likes this big brother routine Derek has going on, with the way he stands up to his full height and clearly grips Dr. Grayson's hand too tight when the man reaches out for a handshake.
Nevermind the guy is taller and broader than Derek is.
"It's nice meeting you, Derek," he says, face guarded. "Laura's told me a lot about you."
Derek raises an eyebrow and glances at Laura, lips tugging up when she pretends to look at anywhere but him.
"I don't think as much as she told me about you," Derek says, eyes crinkling, finally letting go of Dr. Grayson's hand. "You're all we've been hearing about for the past couple of months."
"Derek," Laura hisses at him, the only thing keeping her from luging herself at Derek being the fact she and her boyfriend are still holding hands. "Shut the fuck up."
The smile Derek gives her is blinding, and Stiles knows this is his form of payback for all the shit Laura pulled when they first started dating.
Stiles would feel bad, but he's kind of having the time of his life.
Especially because there's something incredibly endearing about a six feet four african american man made of only muscle desperately trying not to show just how much he actually likes and is flatter by this information
And, you know, Laura's about as red as tomato and is looking like she doesn't know whether to murder everyone or wish for the ground to swallow her whole.
But when Dr. Grayson turns to Laura and places his other hand on her waist, his eyes warming and lips forming a soft smile, Stiles knows that he and Derek should probably be on their way and leave them alone so they can talk and be disgustingly cute together.
Derek also doesn't miss the doctor's reaction when his own smile goes from smug to fond, Dr. Grayson passing all of his tests right then and there with the way he keeps looks at Laura.
Before Stiles can say anything, Derek's the one to tell them they should head out, placing a kiss on Laura's cheek and shaking hands with her boyfriend again.
"It was very nice meeting you, Dr. Grayson."
"You both can call me Alex," he says, glancing at Laura. "Since I think I'll be hanging around."
Laura sniffs, still looking flushed but refusing to back down when she says, "You'd be right."
They say their goodbyes quickly after that, Stiles reminding Laura not to jump her boyfriend in public when the Sheriff of this town is not only his dad but also really good friends with her mom.
Laura is horrified.
Alex looks amused.
Derek just shrugs and says, "It's not like she's not gonna hear about this, since I'm calling her as soon as we're outside."
And Stiles takes a picture of the murderous look on Laura's face, sends it to everyone, and grins the whole drive home as he listens to Derek tell Talia all about the way Laura's boyfriend kept looking at her like she hung the moon and how he seems to be a great guy.
From: Derek
I stopped by the house to see my mom and she and Erica were going through our Christmas decorations.
From: Derek
I think my mom is in whatever it is Erica's planning.
From: Derek
They won't tell me what it is.
From: Derek
And Peter just smiled at me when I asked.
From: Derek
Cora told me Danny stopped by the bar today and asked her to save him a few tables for Saturday.
From: Derek
So I'll come by and we'll have pizza before we go. Sounds good?
"Hmm, so good," Stiles moans as he stuffs the rest of the slice in his mouth. "I missed you, pizza."
Derek rolls his eyes, grabbing a few napkins to wipe the grease off his fingers.
"Do you want me to leave you two alone?"
Stiles wrinkles his nose at him, not bothering with an answer as he keeps chewing, but he does throw his feet up on Derek's lap in a way to let him know not to even think of moving.
"We need to get going if you want to be there before Danny and Ethan come in," Derek tells him, resting a hand on Stiles' ankle.
Stiles nods, swallowing the rest of his food before taking a sip of the beer he's holding.
"You know you're driving, right?"
Derek looks pointedly from Stiles' face to the beer, raising an eyebrow, "Yes, I know."
"Just checking," Stiles says, taking his feet of Derek's lap and bracing himself with an arm on the couch as he leans forward to peck Derek on the lips before getting up. "You gonna come brush your teeth or are you going out with pepperoni breath?"
Stiles doesn't look back as he pads over to his bathroom, missing the way Derek shakes his head at him and then blows out a breath as if to check if it does smell like pepperoni.
He must think so, too, scowling at Stiles as he grabs his Batman toothbrush from the cupholder and goes about brushing his teeth, elbowing Stiles in the ribs when Stiles hips checks him and grins.
About fifteen minutes later they're on their way to the bar, Stiles busying himself with texting Danny and trying to assure him everything will be okay.
Things between Danny and Ethan are getting better, with Ethan coming around after he and his brother worked things out between them as much as they were going to in just a week, but to say Danny isn't nervous or worried about everyone getting together is an understatement.
Stiles gets why he would be feeling this way, with Peter and Aiden's work relationship and the fact that both of them conspired to get Allison's aunt arrested, but he doesn't think anything bad will happen.
Mostly because he knows he, Lydia, Jackson, and Scott will interfere before it comes to that, and Stiles also has no doubt Talia will skin someone alive before letting them fight in her bar.
Peter included.
Stiles guesses that's why Derek offered the bar as neutral territory, knowing his mom would be good at keeping everyone calm.
"Danny doing okay?" Derek asks him as Stiles pockets his phone, glancing at him from the corner of his eye before looking back to the road.
Stiles shrugs, "I think he'll feel better when Aiden's gone and this is all over."
Derek snorts, "I told you inviting him here without Ethan knowing was a bad idea."
Stiles presses his lips together, because Derek did say that.
But that doesn't matter anymore, since now there's nothing they can do about it now that he's already here.
Stiles tells Derek that much.
And Derek just shakes his head at him, but takes one hand off the steering wheel to rest of his thigh and give it a squeeze.
"Everything will be fine," Derek says. "You'll see."
Derek turns out to be-
Well.
They find Isaac sitting with Erica and Boyd at one of the tables Cora saved for them at the right side of the bar, stopping by the counter to say hello to her before walking to them.
"Day off?" Stiles asks Boyd as they take their seats, tipping his bottle at him when Boyd nods. "Good for you. We're gonna need all the help we can get if something goes wrong."
"Nothing's going to go wrong," Erica huffs, eyes training at a point over Stiles' shoulder as she raises an eyebrow. "And I think we won't need that much help since the guy with Laura looks like he could crush someone's head with his bare hands."
"So I take it you haven't met Dr. Grayson yet," Stiles says, and grins when Erica gapes at him.
"That's Dr. Grayson?" Isaac asks, eyes wide as he stares back at the couple.
"Yes," Derek tells her, lifting a hand up to catch Laura's attention. "And I think he'll tell you all to call him Alex. Apparently Laura's being talking to him about us."
"And what wonderful people we are?" Boyd smirks.
Derek gives him a pointed look. "Exactly."
"We're great," Erica says with mock offense. "Anyone would be lucky to have us."
Stiles and Isaac glance at each other and snort, Isaac yelping when Cora appears by his side and presses a cold bottle on the side of his neck.
"It's always good to know how much you love my family," Cora says dryly.
Derek looks at Stiles, lips forming a faint smile, "I don't blame them."
"Please," Erica says, throwing an arm around Stiles' shoulder and leaning in close to him. "Stiles and Isaac love us."
Isaac nods, winding an arm around Cora's waist and looking up at her.
Cora rolls her eyes, bending down to kiss him.
"That doesn't mean I'm not scared of you," Stiles, for his turn, tells her. "Especially your boyfriend. Who looks like he's seriously considering tearing me into little pieces."
Boyd just nods his head in agreement, eyes pointedly looking at the point where Erica's chest is pressed against the side of Stiles' arm.
Erica purses her lips together as if trying not to show how pleased she is by Boyd's reaction, and immediately scoots away from Stiles so she can snuggle against Boyd's side. She doesn't say anything, though, not the way she usually does, and Stiles can't help but think there's something up with her as she just rubs her cheek against Boyd's shoulder and threads their fingers together.
Whatever it is, it must be part of what's got Derek so suspicious of her this past month, but for the life of him he can't think of what it could be.
He decides to let it go when Laura flops down on a chair on Derek's other side, Alex sitting down next to her, the attention of the other four going to her.
"Hey, guys," Stiles pipes up when no one says anything, just curiously stare at Alex. "I see Laura decided to bring you into the wolf's den."
Laura opens her mouth like she's about to tell Stiles just how lame he is when Alex lets out a chuckle, eyes crinkling at the corners as he brings an arm around the back of Laura's chair and looks down at her.
"She did," Alex says. "I was just telling her how much I liked the place before we sat down."
"You should tell our mother that. This bar is like her baby.," Derek tells him, flashing them a small smile. "And it's good to see you again."
"You too, Derek," Alex smiles back. "And I'll definitely tell her when I see her, since I'm guessing that's one of the reasons Laura decided to stop by."
"I figured there was no way to avoid all the crazy, so I might just get it over with," Laura sighs, slumping back against her chair.
Erica, Isaac, Cora, Boyd, and Derek all pretend to look offended.
Stiles just reaches out to pat her on the knee and says, "At least he didn't meet your mom because Boyd got hit in the head and had to be taken to the hospital to get stitches."
Boyd touches the scar on the side of his head at that, and Laura dips her head down as if to say you have a point.
"I think I'd like to hear about that sometime," Alex says, looking around the table.
"You can do that later. Right now we have more important things to discuss," Erica waves a dismiss hand at him before leaning forward in her seat and rather abruptly stating, "Like you being Laura's boyfriend. Dr. Grayson."
Laura waves a hand in front of her and mumbles, "See? All crazy," before glaring at Erica, which seems to be like her default look when it comes to her family interacting with her boyfriend.
Not that Derek was any different when he and Stiles first started dating.
Even though Stiles thinks he was way more embarrassed about his family than he was angry at them for behaving the way they were.
Alex, though, unlike Stiles who remembers being a little bit scared when faced with the Hales, looks deeply amused at her, with the edge of a smile playing at his lips.
He nods at Erica, resting a hand on Laura's shoulder and saying, "I am. But you can call me Alex."
"Oh, I will. And since Laura didn't bother introducing anyone, I'm Erica," Erica says, ignoring the look Derek sends her as if saying I told you so in favor of grabbing Alex's hand and shaking it. "And the hot guy by my right is Boyd. He's my boyfriend."
Alex and Boyd tilt their chins up in acknowledgement, Cora stopping by Alex's side before Erica can continue and practically hitting in the face with her hand when she reaches out for a handshake.
"I'm Laura's sister, Cora," she says, lips curled up. "If you ever want to hear about what an awful big sister she was growing up, you can talk to me."
Laura groans at that, hiding her face behind a hand.
Alex keeps looking like this is the most entertaining night he's had in a while when he says, "I'll take you up on that."
And Derek just raises his hand and grins when Cora high fives him, both of them looking smug when Laura lifts her head up and gives them her best I'm going to kill you look.
Isaac pokes Cora in the stomach and looks pointedly at Alex when she yelps and scowls down at him, making Cora scrunch her nose down at him before saying, "Right. This is Isaac. We're dating."
"Your sister is so sweet," Stiles mumbles to Derek, watching Alex and Isaac. "Really, you can practically feel it pouring off of her."
Derek shakes his head at him, lips tugging up. "Don't let Cora hear you say that. She'll make you regret it."
"So lovely," Stiles sighs, grinning when Derek snorts.
"Oh, Lydia's here," Laura waves at her, smiling wide. "Finally someone normal I can talk to."
"Hey," Stiles, Erica, and Cora frown at her.
And Alex frowns, too, earning a laugh from everyone while he pretends to look offended.
Laura just huffs and leans into him, whispering something in his ear that makes his frown smooth out, and then kissing him on the cheek when he nods at whatever it is that she said.
Stiles bites down on his bottom lip, trying not to smile at how cute they look.
And Derek kind of looks torn between being grossed out or happy for his sister, him and Cora exchanging a look before making faces at each other.
"I still have twenty minutes left, so I have to go back to work," Cora tells them, leaning down to kiss Isaac and bumping her elbow against Lydia's arm when she passes her. "Hey, Lydia."
Lydia gives her a small smile and then turns to the table, taking a seat by Alex's empty side and saying hello to everyone.
"Jackson's coming with Danny?" Stiles asks when he catches her eye.
Lydia nods, "Ethan's bringing Aiden, so Jackson didn't want him to drive over here alone."
Stiles gives her a look, because they both know Jackson doesn't have a problem with Danny going places by himself.
But not that he'd ever admit to anyone he's doing this because he worries about his best friend and wants to make sure he doesn't work himself up into panic before he gets here.
They don't say anything else about it, though, Lydia quickly starting conversation with Alex about the hospital and surgeries they performed and all kinds of stories Allison would love to hear about if she was here.
Being six and a half months pregnant kind of put a damper on her nightly outings, and she stays at home or hosts their dinners at her and Scott's house more often than not these days.
Scott usually stays in with her, being the overprotective person he is, but tonight Stiles knows he's gonna make an exception so he can be here to support Danny.
Something he shows by getting to the bar about ten minutes after Lydia, squeezing a chair between Isaac and Boyd, sitting down, and stealing Isaac's drink.
"Boys," Lydia says when Scott starts laughing and Isaac tries to get him into a headlock, her eyes narrowed. "Behave. You're in front of guests."
Scott rights his shirt after Isaac lets him go and slumps back on his chair with his drink back in his hand, brows furrowing as his eyes sweep around the table as if trying to figure out who Lydia could possibly be talking about.
He does a double take when he gets to Alex, understanding dawning. And to everyone's surprise, a smile stretches across his lips as he gets up and rounds the table so he can get to Alex, throwing an arm around his shoulders and hugging him.
"Hey, Dr. Grayson," Scott says, patting him on the back. "It's good to see you again."
Laura gapes at them.
And so do Stiles, Derek, Isaac, and Erica.
Lydia looks like she's the only one who knows what's going on, and Boyd looks uninterested.
"Dude," Stiles blinks at him, eyebrows twitching in silent question.
"Yes," Laura nods, gesturing at Scott and her boyfriend. "Dude."
Scott frowns at her, and then turns to Stiles, a smile back on his face.
"Remember that time I was playing with Allison's crossbow and accidentally shot myself in the foot?"
Erica, who was taking a sip of her drink, chokes when she tries to laugh and swallow at the same time, tears gathering in her eyes as she tries to catch her breath.
Boyd just sighs and starts patting her on the back, giving Scott a pointed look as if saying see what you did?
Isaac, Derek, and Laura all stare at Scott like they don't know whether to believe he'd ever do something like that or to believe that's exactly the kind of thing that he'd do.
Lydia's looking down at her phone.
And Stiles purses his lips, because he remembers.
He remembers laughing so hard when Allison called him to tell him what happened that he thought he was going to burst something.
"I remember, yes," Stiles nods, trying not to laugh like he did that day.
"Well, Dr. Grayson was the one who removed it for me," Scott tells them.
"I was also going to give you a lecture on how not to treat weapons as toys, but I think Dr. Argent had that covered," Alex raises an eyebrow at Scott, who flushes and ducks his head.
"She did, yeah," Scott mumbles, but then he's back to all smiles again as he goes back to his seat. "So you're the guy Lydia set Laura up with on Christmas?"
"I'm still waiting for my thank you basket for that, by the way," Lydia raises her eyes from her phone only long enough to give Laura a pointed look.
Before Laura can say anything, Alex answers, "How about I let you scrub-in in my place when you see a surgery you want to do? Because I don't think a thank you basket is enough for introducing me to Laura."
"Smooth," Stiles says, impressed.
Derek, Isaac, and Boyd nod.
Erica and Laura look like they're barely managing to keep themselves from melting into a pile of goo.
Lydia smiles, pleased with herself, like this is exactly the outcome she was expecting.
And then they hear a voice coming from behind them, saying, "It's good to see my niece found someone who appreciates her."
"Hi, Uncle Peter," everyone but Stiles, Scott, Lydia, and Alex say, Erica going as far as getting up and giving him a hug.
Stiles thinks she must also say something to him, because Peter cups a hand over her ear and whispers something back, giving her a wink when she pulls back to smile at him.
Derek watches the exchange with a suspicious look on his face.
"Aren't you worried about that?" Derek asks Boyd. "That she's up to something."
Boyd shakes his head, shrugging one shoulder, his lips twitching up, "When it comes to Erica, I always worry."
Derek presses his lips together, eyes narrowed on his uncle.
Who pretty much ignores him as he rounds back on Alex, assessing him.
It kind of makes Stiles wonder if Peter already knows everything there is to know about the guy, doing his research as soon as he found out Alex was interested in Laura.
To be honest, he's not sure if he wants to know the answer.
It doesn't stop Laura from introducing him and telling Peter, and everyone else at the table, about him, though, and getting this dreamy smile on her face whenever she mentions something he accomplished she's particularly proud of.
It's cute.
And it kind of gives Stiles an idea of what Derek must look like whenever he brings Stiles up in conversation with other people when he's not around.
Cora sits down sometime between Alex trying to stop Laura from complimenting him and him actually succeeding, her feet propped over Isaac's lap as she stares at her sister like she's committing all of this to memory so she can tease Laura about it later.
Peter doesn't stay with them long, claiming he has a few graduate students around that are much better company for him to talk to.
No one is impressed.
They're also not really that sad to him go, but that could be because Jackson and Danny show up right then, with Danny looking a little sick and a lot worried and Jackson glaring at anyone who looks in their direction.
Stiles sighs.
Great.
Lydia pulls up a chair by her side, directly in front of Stiles, and drags Danny down with a hand on his wrist, with Jackson settling down on the one between Danny and Isaac and in front of Erica. She makes the brief introductions to Alex, Laura leaning in and telling him about what's going on in hushed tones while Isaac signals a bartender and orders Danny a drink.
Stiles, in his show of silent support, finds Danny's foot under the table and taps his ankle with the tip of his shoe, flashing him something he hopes to be a reassuring smile when Danny looks up at him.
"You'll be okay," Stiles says when Danny's returning smile comes off as a grimace.
"It's just," Danny gulps, shakes his head, and looks miserable. "I haven't seen him all week. And sure, he called and asked us to do this, and we texted a few times, but I don't know if we're okay yet. I mean, really okay yet."
"You are," Jackson says, punching Danny in the shoulder, and then mumbles, "If Ethan knows what's good for him."
Danny glares at Jackson while Scott and Stiles share a look, knowing they'll have to do damage control if Jackson decides to start throwing punches.
Ethan actually doesn't give anyone even a reason to get that tense when he and Aiden arrive at the bar, though, with him going up to sit beside Danny as soon as he sees him and letting his brother trail behind him at him own pace.
The relief and happiness on Danny's face when Ethan doesn't hesitate to lean in and give him a quick kiss serves to make everyone let out a breath, but Stiles doesn't miss the way Danny's lips tighten a bit when Ethan says something under his breath along the lines of we'll still have to talk about this, though.
And as it turns out, when introductions are made, Ethan also knows who Dr. Grayson is, informing everyone with a smile on his face that Laura's boyfriend used to take yoga classes.
"I think you stopped coming not long after I started working there, though."
Alex nods, looking a little sad, "My schedule didn't leave time for me to do more than sleep and be at the hospital. To be honest, most of the time I slept I still was at the hospital. But I was thinking of getting back into it."
"You should," Laura tells him, appearing to be delighted by the new information. "Because you're gonna need to keep in shape if you want to keep up with me."
Alex just raises an eyebrow at Laura and says, "I've never heard you complain."
Cora makes gagging noises at that, while Derek looks positively horrified at the words coming out of their mouths.
Stiles can't really help but laugh at them, dropping his forehead against Derek's shoulder and patting Derek's stomach with his hand, still trying to comfort him.
He lifts his head back up when he hears someone clear their throats, though, eyes finding Ethan's brother, who's still standing next to their tables with arms crossed over his chest and an unamused look on his face.
Right.
Ethan stands up, then, eyes narrowing into slits as he walks up to his brother, jaw clenched.
"Everyone, this is Aiden," Ethan says loudly. "Aiden, don't pretend to not know who everyone is already."
Stiles blinks at that, hand freezing against Derek's stomach, feeling the muscles tense under his palm as Derek looks back at Aiden, face blank.
Laura and Cora look about the same, their shoulders tense and eyes alert, as if they're waiting for something to happen.
Or for someone to do something.
Not that they look like they're going to, with the way Erica and Isaac just narrow their eyes at him, Boyd and Alex raise their eyebrows, Danny slumps into himself and looks skyward as if begging for help, and Lydia tilts her head to the side, considering.
And Jackson just crossed his arms over his chest and glares back.
"You're right," Aiden agrees, eyes glinting as he scans the table. "I know who they all are, so the only one who interests me is her."
Like Stiles said, Jackson doesn't get angry because of Ethan.
Nope, he gets angry because of Ethan's brother.
More precisely, the way Aiden is currently pointing a finger right at Lydia.
Jackson is up before Stiles can blink, and he manages to take two steps in Aiden's direction before Lydia curls her fingers around his wrist and digs her nails in, stopping him in his tracks.
Laura and Erica are also out of their chairs, Laura looking like she's siding with Lydia and will not hesitate to hold Jackson back if she needs her to, while Erica just kind of looks like she's about to do what Jackson's dying to do and punch Aiden in the face.
So it's a good idea when Boyd stands up as well, placing a hand on her shoulder, not really holding her back but letting her know he'll stop her if she tries to do something. And Alex stands and walks until he's right behind Laura, waiting to see what she does so he knows if it's okay for him to react.
Cora also keeps an eye at her sister, but instead of taking her other side she moves until she's right in front of Isaac, who kind of looks like he doesn't know whether to walk away or stand his ground.
That is until Scott comes up beside him and knocks their elbows together, his eyes trained on Jackson but showing Isaac he's there if he needs him.
Stiles and Danny stay exactly where they are, following Lydia's lead, waiting to see what she does and if she manages to calm Jackson down.
They know they'll have to get in the middle of it if she doesn't, but they've both had a lot of experience with dealing with an angry Jackson so they know the odds are all in her favor.
Especially when Derek waves at someone from behind Stiles' shoulder and about thirty seconds later Peter is putting himself between Aiden and everyone, Ethan shaking his head at his brother in disappointment and coming to stand by Danny's side.
Stiles feels torn between happiness for Danny at having his boyfriend stick with him or sadness for Ethan for having to do because of his brother being a dick.
Peter doesn't say anything, though, either because he can sense how tense everyone is and how they're all ready to do something if the need arises or because Talia gets there before him.
"I don't see the beginnings of a fight, do I?" Talia asks, face blank and tone cold, eyes going between Jackson and Aiden.
Stiles is not embarrassed when he shuffles closer to Derek at seeing her.
Really, he's not.
He has to give it to Derek's mom for being the most badass lady he's ever met.
And seeing her with her hands on her hips and her head held high as she regards the scene with something akin to disinterest - like she knows no one will ever dare to stand up to her without being ready to get their asses handed to them -, he remembers why he's a little bit scared of the Hale women.
And why it's a good idea to never ever get on their bad side.
Jackson recognizes that in Talia, knowing Lydia also gets the same glint in her eyes, and backs down without anyone having to say anything else, flopping down on his chair.
He doesn't lose the pissed off look on his face, though.
Not until Lydia slides over to Danny's chair and moves her hand down from his wrist until they can tangle their fingers together.
Then he just looks smug.
"Good," Peter claps his hands together, turning back to Aiden as everyone sits back down. "Because I don't think you wouldn't have liked to explain to Deucalion why you came back damaged."
Aiden gulps at that, his hands clenched into fists, and gives Peter a sharp nod.
"Now why don't you come sit down with me?" Peter asks him, not waiting for an answer before he starts dragging Aiden away, only sparing Ethan a glance and giving him a look as if to say he'll take care of his brother.
Ethan waves a hand at him, his silent way of telling Peter to go ahead, and soon everyone is sitting back down in their chair and letting the tension seep out of them.
Well, that worked out great.
Which is why no one looks at either Ethan or Danny when Danny touches Ethan's arm and starts quietly apologizing, all of them directing their attention to Laura and Alex.
And Talia, who now has a small smirk on her lips and who's looking from Laura to Alex and back again.
"Does your mom always meet her kids' prospective significant others in dire situations?" Stiles asks Derek, voice low, as they all watch Laura flush under her mother's gaze and introduce her to Alex.
Not that flustered Laura still doesn't have her shoulders squared and her back straight and a look on her face that tells her mom she'll take no shit about her choice in partners.
"Yes," Derek says without hesitation, eyes crinkling at the corners at the way Alex shakes his mom's hand and goes right back to standing by Laura's side, their shoulders touching.
Stiles does a double take, mouth falling open, "I was joking."
Derek shrugs one shoulder, finally turning to look at him, one eyebrow raised. "You met her because Boyd got hit in the head. Laura's boyfriend just met her because Jackson was going to start a fight with Ethan's brother. And Isaac met her because his father was an abusive asshole and mom was the one who offered him a home after he died."
Stiles snaps his mouth shut, mouth suddenly dry.
He glances back at Talia, warmth blooming in his chest.
"Your mom's a nice lady," Stiles tells him.
"You mean the best," Derek sniffs, lips forming a small smile.
They go back to watching Laura and Alex, only to see Laura's eyes widen when Talia asks Alex, "Did Laura show you the picture wall?"
Alex's brows furrow in confusion, his eyes lighting up with interest as he shakes his head and says, "She didn't, no. Now I'm curious to why."
"You don't want to see some old pictures," Laura says quickly, glaring at her mother when Talia just blinks at her, face calm.
Not that Stiles doesn't know she's cackling in glee inside.
"She means you don't want to see the fourth frame down in the second left corner," Cora says loudly, and then smiles sweetily when Laura hisses her name.
Stiles looks at Derek in question, who leans in and whispers, "Laura in second grade. She decided she wanted to be a hairdresser and thought it'd be a good idea to try it first on herself. It took months for her bangs to grow back."
Laura's reaction to Cora's comment only makes Alex even more determined to let Talia show him around the bar, flashing a smile at Laura before offering his arm to Talia and saying, "After you, Mrs. Hale."
Derek's mom smiles back, sending a wink at Cora before turning around and walking him to the wall.
"I am going to rip your fingernails clean off your hands," is all Laura has time to hiss before she trails behind them, covering her face behind her hands and she sees her mother pointing at a picture and saying something about boy bands.
Things calm down after that, with everyone going back to their drinks and conversations now that nothing particularly interesting is happening.
They all do pause and stare when Alex and Laura come back, though, Cora and Derek snickering at the exasperated and embarrassed look on Laura's face and the amused and smug on in Alex's.
Especially when he asks them if the story Talia told him about Laura wearing a pair of pink panties in her head as a crown and pretending her stuffed toys were her subjects is true.
"It is," Derek says, grinning.
"I think mom still has pictures of it somewhere," Cora offers, laughing and ducking when Laura throws an olive at her head.
Only for Isaac to catch it with his mouth, his cheeks turning pink when Scott punches him in the shoulder.
"Dude, nice catch!"
Lydia rolls her eyes at both of them, muttering something about manners and animals and I don't know why I associate with these people when the alarm on her phone starts blaring.
"Hospital?" Alex asks her, giving her a sympathetic look when she nods.
"I'm on call until tomorrow morning," Lydia says, gathering her things. "You know, if no one decides to get sicker."
"How dare they," Alex says dryly, earning himself one of Lydia's rare smiles.
Lydia says her goodbyes to everyone, stopping three steps away from them only to turn back and narrow her eyes at Jackson.
"Well," Lydia says slowly. "Do you think I'm going to drive myself?"
Jackson tries to look mad at her, but Stiles notices the way his lips twitch up when he gets up and walks to her, placing his hand on the small of her back as they leave.
Scott doesn't hang around long after that, telling everyone he wants to get home to Allison and make sure she's okay.
"You coming over Friday, right?" he asks Stiles when they hug each other goodbye, keeping his hands on Stiles' shoulder until he answers.
"I am," Stiles nods, and then wiggles his eyebrows. "And we're having a sleepover."
"Video games and pizza?" Scott grins, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"You know it, buddy."
When he sits back down and turns to Derek is to see him with a fond look on his face, the corner of his lips tugged up.
"What?"
"You two are still secretly eight-year-olds, aren't you?"
Stiles shrugs, "There's nothing secret about it."
Derek snorts, shaking his head and then leaning forward to rub their noses together.
Danny and Ethan are the next to go, Stiles taking the opportunity to go talk to Danny when Ethan goes in search of his brother.
"Everything okay, man?"
Danny runs a hand through his hair, face tired, "I think so, yeah. We've got to talk about a few things tonight, and I know we'll need to have a couple of other conversations until everything's totally okay again."
Stiles bumps their shoulders together, "At least you're leaving together. And if you wanna, I can give you a few ideas about groveling. Scott, too."
Danny smiles then, small but happy, "Thanks, Stiles. Really. Derek too, for suggesting we come here."
"I'll tell him," Stiles promises. "And I'll tell Mrs. Hale you wanted to thank her too, but you were to scared to go talk to her after what almost happened."
Danny makes a face at him but doesn't deny it, hugging Stiles goodbye when Ethan walks up to them.
"Aiden's staying with Peter," Ethan says, scrubbing a hand over his face. "I don't know if I should be worried or relieved."
"Both," Stiles says honestly, even though Danny starts glaring at him. "Definitely both. But as long as they're in Beacon Hills, Derek's mom won't let them do anything too bad."
Ethan lets out a shaky breath, shifting in his feet when he looks up at Stiles, "Can you tell her I'm sorry about-"
"I can," Stiles says, clapping him on the shoulder. "Even though I doubt Mrs. Hale blames you for it."
"Thanks," Ethan says quietly, letting Danny snake an arm around his waist as they move to leave.
Stiles hangs around with the rest of them for another few hours, going to find Talia at some point to talk to her about Ethan and Danny. And just like he thought she would, she just shakes her head at him and tells him to let his friends know not to worry.
"I still know enough people in New York that Peter wouldn't even think about doing anything that might upset me," Talia says, that faint and mysterious and scary smile of hers on her lips.
That doesn't even fall when Peter and Aiden pass by them on their way out, Peter throwing them a little wave over his shoulder before they disappear outside.
Stiles just hopes she's right.
For everyone's sake.
He also hopes that whatever Erica walks over to talk to Talia about doesn't end up with someone hurt, especially considering the way she keeps looking at him as if she wants him to go away.
"Alright, alright," Stiles lifts hands up in surrender. "I can tell when I'm not wanted."
"It's not that," Erica huffs, and the sweet and shy smile she gives him kind of throwing Stiles off guard. "It's just- It's a surprise. And I don't want anyone to know it yet."
Stiles frowns, "I wouldn't tell anyone."
Erica rolls her eyes, "You'd tell Derek, because you wouldn't want to keep this from him."
Stiles purses his lips, because that's kind of true."
"And Derek would tell Boyd," Talia says, giving him a pointed look.
"And we wouldn't want that?" Stiles tilts his head to the side.
Erica and Talia shake their heads.
"We really wouldn't," Erica says. "So can you keep your mouth shut?"
"I'll try my best," Stiles promises, and then leaves them to their plans in favor of going back to Derek.
Only to find him alone at the table, his legs stretched in front of him and arms crossed over his chest as he watches Stiles.
"Where's everyone?"
"Alex got called into work," Derek tells him, trapping Stiles' feet between his legs when Stiles sits down on the table. "Laura went with him. And Cora, Isaac, and Boyd are in the kitchen. Something about hidden ice cream pies in the freezer."
Stiles snorts, "Kids."
"Like you're any better," Derek says dryly.
"You love it," Stiles shrugs, completely unapologetic.
Derek doesn't deny it, uncrossing his arms and turning in his seat so his legs are between Stiles' spread ones and he can rest his hands on Stiles' hips, clutching at his shirt.
"Want to head out?" Derek looks up at him from under his lashes, his cheeks coloring slightly. "We have some making up to do if you're going to spend Friday at Scott's."
Stiles grins, kissing Derek slow and deep and until they're both out of breath. "I like how you think."
To: Derek
heard from lydia that aiden left yesterday
To: Derek
guess danny's plan didn't work out afterall but at least ethan's not mad at him anymore
To: Derek
kinda sad because his brother is a dick but not mad at danny
To: Derek
i still bought danny a pound's worth of candy during lunch break and gave it to him when we finished our shift though
To: Derek
because i'm the best xoxo
To: Derek
i know you're the one who rsvp/rsvped/rsvpeed (how do you conjugate that help) for us but don't forget the baby shower is this saturday!
To: Derek
and that you need to stop by the store and buy oj because i finish yours this morning :D
To: Derek
and don't think i don't remember not hearing from you about the chocolate and sexy times being rainchecked!
"Derek," Stiles gasps, muscles straining, fingers tangled in Derek's hair as he arches his back, trying to get Derek closer to him.
Derek doesn't even bother looking up at him, hands at his hips holding him still, too busy licking at Stiles' nipples, mouthing at his stomach, and sucking marks into the groove of his hips, making everything wetter and sweeter and stickier as he laps at Stiles' torso.
"Derek," Stiles tugs at his hair, trying to get him to move, to touch him, to do something. "I don't- I- Just fucking do something."
"Do something?" Derek asks, lifting his head up enough so he can stare up at Stiles, his red and spit-slicked lips curved into a smirk.
"Yes," Stiles pleads, making his point by trying to thrust his hips up, only succeeding in making Derek's hands hold him tighter. "And by that I mean stop teasing me and get your mouth on my dick!"
Derek blinks up at him, shifting on the bed so that he's hovering just above Stiles' dick, making it twitch as his breath ghosts over it when he speaks, "Did you know you get really cranky when you don't get off?"
"Did I?" Stiles snaps, voice strangled. "Wow, I wonder why that is. It's not like we've been at this for over half an hour already."
"You should work on that," Derek tells him, eyes filled with mirth. "You know what they say. Good things come to those who wait."
Before Stiles can say something like I've waited, so why can't I just come already? Derek seems to take pity on him, hand wrapping around Stiles' dick and guiding it into his mouth, making Stiles lose his train of thought when all the can concentrate on is the heat of Derek's mouth and the softness of his lips and the heavenly sucking every time he bobs his head up and down.
It takes about thirty seconds too long, in Stiles opinion, for his him to feel his orgasm building, one of his hands moving from Derek's hair to clutch at his shoulder being all the warning he can give Derek before coming down his throat, toes curling, eyes rolling to the back of his head.
When he can focus on his surroundings again it's only to have his dick twitch against his belly in a feeble attempt to get hard, his eyes glued to Derek as he kneels between Stiles' spread legs, a hand tugging at his dick, jerking himself off, hard and fast.
And all it takes for Derek to trip over the edge, adding to the mess on Stiles' chest and stomach, is for Stiles to surge up and seal their lips together, teeth coming down to bite at Derek's bottom lip before sucking it into his mouth, the sweet taste of Derek on Stiles' tongue.
"Stiles?" Derek asks a few minutes later, nudging Stiles' cheek with his nose until Stiles turns to him, seeing Derek's eyes crinkled at the corners, cheeks flushed, a smudge of whipped cream clinging to the stubble on his chin.
"Yeah?" Stiles swallows, trying to catch his breath, eyes going from the mess of come and whipped cream that is his body and then back to Derek, who's looking at him like he could still eat him whole.
Derek leans in, bumping their noses together, his lips brushing over Stiles' when he says, "Sorry this wasn't chocolate."
Stiles blinks.
And then laughs.
And feels no guilt whatsoever when he turns on his side and plasters himself to Derek and kisses him, come and spit and whipped cream between them, glueing them together.
From: Derek
I have to go pick up the baby's gift, so I'll see you at the shower, okay?
To: Derek
ugh you suck
From: Derek
Only if you're good.
"Boyd, are you sure you don't want to marry me?"
"I'm sure."
"But these are so good," Stiles moans as he takes a bite out of another mini cupcake, tongue darting out to lick the frosting on his lips. "So, so good."
"Noted," Boyd says dryly, and then his face softens when his eyes find Erica sitting beside Allison on the couch, with Allison holding one of Erica's hands against her stomach, to feel the baby kicking. "I'm taken."
"Erica's so lucky," Stiles sighs before taking another bite. "And this is so good."
"Are you going to keep being weird about my food?" Boyd asks him. "Because if you are, I'm gonna go away."
Stiles' only response is to make another pleased noise as he finishes the cupcake, and he has to hide his grin behind a napkin when Boyd gives him a flat stare and gets up, walking away from him and to Lydia, who's currently rearranging food on Scott and Allison's living room table.
"Is Derek gonna be here soon?" Scott asks as he flops down on Boyd's empty seat. "Because it's almost opening gifts time. Lydia has a schedule and everything."
Stiles nods, fishing his phone out of his pocket and checking his texts.
"He said he was on his way about ten minutes ago," Stiles tells him. "So he should be getting here in another ten."
"Good," Scott nods, eyes sweeping around the room. "Because he's the only one missing."
Stiles follows Scott's gaze to watch their friends and family around the living room, talking and laughing and being weird about Boyd's food just like Stiles was.
Only with a little less moaning every time they take a bite of something he baked.
When Allison roped Lydia, and Lydia dragged Stiles, into helping her organize the baby shower, one thing she made sure they knew from the start was that everyone was going to be invited.
And that there would be no games.
Those two things weren't hard to accomplish, considering how everyone is always excited about anything and everything to do with Baby McCall,and how they all know how competitive Allison can get whenever she's playing something.
So people already didn't need much of a push when it came to attend the baby shower, but when Lydia told everyone that was were Allison and Scott where going to announce the baby's name, those who were still undecided made up their minds.
The only thing that had Stiles and Allison worried, though, was how Derek was going to react to meeting her father.
Not that they had to worry about it for long, when Derek was actually the one who went to Allison to talk to her about it, assuring her that yes, things might be a little weird between them, but he knew her dad wasn't the one to blame about his sister's actions.
Much like he didn't blame Allison for what happened.
He also told her he'd talk to his friends and his sisters about Allison's dad being present, and how he expected everyone to be on their best behavior. Or else.
So far they're all behaving, with Cora and Laura occasionally sending Mr. Argent suspicious glances whenever he walks by them on his way to grab another sandwich from the plates on the living room table.
If Allison's dad notices he doesn't say anything, just goes back to where Mrs. McCall and the Sheriff are standing and to whatever conversation they were all having.
And if Laura and Cora look like they want to say something to him, they don't, with Cora leaning back against Isaac and Laura looking down at her feet whenever he glances from them to Allison and back again, as if reminding them why they're all here.
Stiles hopes things stay that way.
Calm, with everyone drinking and eating and keeping in mind that they're all here out of love for Allison and the baby she's carrying.
Because he doesn't want to see the fit Lydia will throw or how angry Scott will get if anything goes wrong for Allison this afternoon.
Not that Lydia's looking particularly happy as she grabs Jackson's wrist when he walks by on his way to the kitchen to grab more napkins and checks his watch, lips thinning unhappily when she scans the room and sees Derek's not there yet.
"You better call him," Scott tells him, eyes on Lydia. "Because I don't think Lydia's going to appreciate him being late."
Stiles makes a face at Scott, but promptly unlocks the screen on his phone and dials Derek's number, putting the phone to his ears and mouthing to Lydia I'm calling him when she turns to him with narrowed eyes.
Which is why it takes him a second to hear the faint sounds of a familiar ringtone getting closer, Stiles turning around in circles trying to figure out where the sound is coming from until he sees Derek from one of the open windows.
He turns off his phone and goes to open the door, blinking at the box with a bright green and purple bow glued on top of it that Derek has in his hands.
"You're late," Stiles says when Derek pushes past him into the house, and smiling when Derek rolls his eyes and kisses him on the cheek.
"It took me longer to get back than I thought it would," Derek tells him, and then directs his apology to Lydia when she walks up to him, hands on her hips. "I'm sorry. I should have planned better."
Lydia gives him a long look before sighing, snatching the box from Derek's hands and saying, "At least you're here. Now let's go. We're on a schedule here."
Stiles rolls his eyes as soon as Lydia turns her back to them and starts walking, stopping Derek with a hand on the back of his shirt when he starts to follow.
"C'mere," Stiles says quietly, curling a hand around the back of Derek's neck as he shifts closer. "I want a proper kiss."
Derek huffs but doesn't hesitate to close the distance between them, pressing their lips together in a soft and chaste kiss.
Stiles makes a little noise of protest when Derek pulls back sooner than he'd like to, bottom lip jutting out in a pout.
"Do you want Lydia to come get us?" Derek looks at him expectantly, and Stiles scrunches his nose up in distaste only to go back to pouting again when Derek nods at him. "I didn't think so. So let's go."
Stiles sighs, knowing he'll probably won't get a good taste at Derek while at the house, and trails after Derek and into the living room. He avoids looking at Lydia, who's sitting on the ground near the pile of gifts, because that way he'll miss the displeased look on her face as he and Derek take their time finding a place to sit.
Derek even stops to hug Scott and bend down to kiss Allison on the cheek, his fingers brushing against her extended stomach before he joins Stiles on the loveseat.
Stiles sees Derek's eyes lock with Mr. Argent's for a second when they all start gathering around Allison and the gift, but neither of them do more than give each other a small nod before focusing on Allison, watching as Scott takes his spot by Allison's side with an arm thrown over her shoulder, a grin firmly in place on his lips.
Stiles has to admit he starts breathing a little easier after that, knowing that even though the two of them will probably have a conversation at some point - because Stiles knows sometimes Mr. Argent can't help himself from cornering people and talking to them -, it'll be with their heads on straight.
Hopefully.
"Everyone comfortable?" Lydia asks, waiting until they nod at her. "Great. Jackson, come here and help me."
Jackson presses his lips together but obeys, sitting down beside Lydia and handing her the first present before she hands it to Allison.
Stiles rests his head against Derek's shoulder as they watch Allison and Scott open the gifts, smiling at the way Allison looks down at everything with a flash of approval and makes the owner of the gift get up and hug her and laughing whenever Scott doesn't really understand what something is.
Which doesn't happen as much as Stiles thought it would, and he can't help the pride blooming in his chest at knowing his best friend is pretty well prepared to be a dad.
That still doesn't mean he doesn't almost cry laughing at the alarmed look on Scott's face when looks at the new gift Allison opened and asks, "What's that?"
"It's a breast pump," Mrs. McCall is the one who answers before Scott can, grinning when he turns to gape at her, his eyes wide and horrified.
"A brea-," Scott makes a choked up noise, shaking his head. "Let's move on, please."
Allison pats him on the knee and leans in to give him a quick kiss, accepting another gift from Lydia.
"We should talk about it," Derek says quietly, watching as Allison thanks Danny and Ethan for the baby carrier.
Stiles turns his head to him, blinking a few times.
"Kids?"
Derek nods, twisting his head to the side so he can look at Stiles in the eye.
"We mentioned it at your dad's," Derek licks his lips and shrugs one shoulder. "I'm not saying we should have a discussing about it, just-"
"See if it's something we'd like to consider," Stiles nods. "In the future."
"Yes."
Stiles nods again, taking his time to think about it.
They haven't really touched the subject since that night at dinner at his dad's house, but Stiles thinks it'd be good for them to at least talk a little about it. Even if just to see if this is something they both want for themselves, or if they want it together.
Stiles knows that his answer to that is yes.
In a few years, maybe, if Derek agrees.
Because he's aware they have a lot of things to overcome individually or go through as a couple before they're ready to add kids to the mix.
But this conversation is kind of premature, considering it's only been-
Oh.
Oh.
It's been almost a year since they-
Well, technically, since they met.
A whole year.
Almost.
Stiles bites down on his lower lip, eyes scanning Derek's face, because it feels so much longer than that.
He's not even sure he remembers what certain things were like before he had Derek.
"Stiles?"
"I want kids," Stiles says quietly. "I think it's a little premature for us to be talking about it, considering we haven't even had the conversation about whether or not we want to spend the rest of our lives together, so I obviously don't mean right now. But someday, yeah, I want them."
Derek's face go from hopeful to awed to a little bit scared and to completely vulnerable in about ten seconds, the corners of his lips and eyes softening as he looks at Stiles with such intensity Stiles doesn't know whether to squirm away from him or get closer.
"I-," Derek stops, swallows, looks down at the line of their bodies pressed together. "I know I still have a lot of work to do first. On myself. And that we- We need to talk about that. If we want to spend- But I- I'd like that. Kids. Someday."
Stiles' lips curl up at the corners, his stomach flipping at hearing those words from Derek's mouth. "We can talk about it. Talk about all of that. You know, later. In time. Okay?"
"Okay," Derek nods, and before Stiles can turn his attention back to Allison and Scott he kisses him, short and sweet.
"Are you two done whispering?" Lydia asks, raising an eyebrow at Stiles when he snaps his head back at her. "There's only Stiles' gift left."
"I missed Derek's?" Stiles gasps, ignoring the amused and exasperated looks everyone gives them.
And also the way Derek ducks his head to try and hide his smile from him.
Or the way Stiles' cheeks flush when his dad says, "You seemed to be having an important discussing. We didn't want to trouble you."
"And Derek can come and hug me now, though," Allison says, giving them a pointed look. "If you're done."
Stiles watches as Derek huffs in embarrassment and gets up, throwing his arms around Allison's shoulder and kissing the top of her head.
"What did he give you?" Stiles asks, looking around the small mountain of unwrapped gifts sitting around.
"He-," Allison starts, pointing at something behind her. "Scott, can you-?"
"Yeah, here," Scott says, reaching for something behind them. "He gaves us clothes. Like, different sized baby socks and onesies and stuff like that."
"I know it's not much, but I heard babies grow super fast so I thought-," Derek starts, only to be interrupted by Scott.
"We love it, man," Scott tells him, punching Stiles on the shoulder. "It was good thinking."
"And that way we won't have to worry much about suddenly not having clothes that fit anymore," Allison smiles brightly. "So thank you."
"You're welcome," Derek says, cheeks flushed.
"Can you open mine now?" Stiles asks, leaning forward in his seat.
Scott and his dad roll his eyes at him, Lydia giving him an unimpressed look before handing him and Allison Stiles' present.
He grins wide when she opens the box and promptly starts laughing, Scott frowning and looking down over her shoulder.
"Dude," Scott gasps, reaching inside and picking up the Avengers mobile and lifting it up in front of his face. "This is so cool."
"Do they have Batman ones?" Erica asks, eyes huge.
Stiles nods, proud, "With the Joker and Robin and everything."
"Really, Stiles?" Lydia sighs. "Really?"
"I think it's cool," Isaac offers, getting nods from Cora, Laura, Danny, and Ethan.
"Yes, Stiles," Allison smiles, dimples showing. "I love it. Thank you."
"Anything for you guys," Stiles says as he walks up to Allison, kneeling down until he's level with Allison's stomach, his hands coming to rest on either sides of her belly. "And for my favorite goddaughter."
"You only have the one," Scott pokes him in the cheek, snatching his hand back when Stiles snaps his teeth at him.
"Children," the Sheriff says, shaking his head when Scott and Stiles turn to him, trying to look innocent.
By the expression on his dad and Mrs. McCall's face, they don't succeed.
Stiles presses a quick kiss to Allison's stomach when he feels the baby kicking before going back to his seat, pulling Derek's arm over his shoulders and snuggling against his side.
"I'll help you put away everything later" Lydia gestures at the gifts, looking at Scott and Allison. "But now that everything's opened…"
She trails off, with Stiles wasting no time in finishing her sentence for her, "What's the baby's name?"
It seems like everyone perks up, shifting in their seats in anticipation, because until Allison and Scott said they'd reveal the name during the baby shower, they'd shown no indication to reaching an agreement on what they'd be calling their kid.
Up until two days ago, Stiles was still getting random texts from Scott asking him his opinion on a few names.
So he's pretty excited to find out what his goddaughter will be called.
Especially because then he can stop calling her Baby McCall in his head all the time.
"Well," Allison says, glancing at Scott, who just nods and smiles encouragingly at her. "We're naming her Tori. Tori Argent McCall."
"Tori is short for Victoria," Scott says, resting a hand on top of Allison's, curling their fingers together. "After Allison's mom."
They hear a sharp intake of breath from Mr. Argent, and everyone pretends not to notice the way his eyes water or the way Allison's bottom lip wobbles just before she pulls her dad in a hug.
"It's a beautiful name, you two," Mr. Argent says, clearing his throat after he lets her go. "Thank you."
Stiles looks at his dad, then, a sad smile on his lips, because he knows both of them are thinking about his mom.
About her absence.
And when he feels Derek take a deep breath next to him and turns his attention to him, he knows Derek's thinking about his dad.
Just like Laura and Cora, who are looking on with sadness and understanding in their eyes.
They don't get a chance to think about that for long, though, with Lydia taking charge of things and pushing the sadness away when she announces it's time for cake.
And that's when Mr. Argent approaches Derek, right as Stiles takes two steps away from him and to the table.
Stiles looks back at Derek, eyebrows twitching as if asking him if he wants to stay, giving him a reassuring smile when Derek shakes his head at him.
He does the same thing when Laura and Cora look back at him, Laura actually taking a step forward as if to put herself between Derek and Allison's dad, only stopping when Stiles extends a hand and places it on her arm.
"He's okay," Stiles says, voice low. "If he's not, he'll come to us."
Laura purses her lips together, clearly not liking this, but doesn't protest when Stiles drags her to the table and puts a plate with a slice of cake on her hand.
He still keeps watch of Derek from the corner of his eye, though, bumping his elbow with Allison's when she comes to stand by him.
"Dad's been wanting to talk to him for some time now," Allison tells him. "He knew there was something about him when I mentioned how close Derek and I became, but I don't think he connected the dots until- Until the arrest. And Derek and I decided to go on a vacation for a few hours. I think he feels like he needs to apologize for what happened. For not doing more when he could. For not helping her."
Derek and Allison's dad don't talk for more than ten minutes, but Stiles can tell by the way the lines of Mr. Argent's shoulders lose a bit of tension and the way Derek flashes him a small smile that things are okay.
That doesn't stop him from asking, though.
"You okay?" Stiles asks, rubbing a hand up and down Derek's arm.
"Yeah," Derek says, picking up Stiles' fork and trying the cake. "It was- I'm- We didn't really say anything. He wanted to apologize. When I got him to understand that he didn't need to there wasn't much left to talk about."
Stiles nods, his hand sliding up Derek's arm to rest on the side of his neck so he can pull him into a kiss.
"Want me to go grab you a plate so you can stop eating my cake?" Stiles asks when he breaks the kiss, tongue darting out to lick his lips and taste the sweetness from Derek's mouth.
Derek looks down at the plate between them and shrugs one shoulder, "I'm good."
Stiles rolls his eyes and goes to find a plate for Derek anyways.
Not that it makes much difference.
Derek just keeps eating from his, anyways.
To: Derek
i left a surprise for you in your bedroom when i stopped by to pick up the hoodie i left there
To: Derek
and by that i mean i folded your laundry because it was still in the basket and your clothes were gonna get all wrinkled
To: Derek
you're welcome
To: Derek
greenberg ate some expired mayo and is out sick so i'm gonna have to cover one of his shifts
To: Derek
so that means i'll practically be working two days straight
To: Derek
i'll miss you boo don't forget me 3
"'M tired," Stiles whines, uselessly trying to get his hands to work so he can push Derek away.
"You also stink," Derek says, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "Just take a shower and then you can go to bed."
"Can't," Stiles grumbles, trying to lift his arms. "Arms don't work."
Derek snorts out a laugh, and Stiles can't really help the way his lips quirk up in a very faint smile.
It kind of warms his heart to know Derek can still laugh at him when he smells like ass and can barely keep himself from falling to the ground and taking a nap right there in the bathroom floor.
Next time Greenberg gets sick, he'll make sure Danny is the one covering for him.
"If I help you, will you stop complaining?"
Stiles blinks wearily at Derek, lips pursing together as he pretends to think about it. "Yes?"
"Good," Derek nods, the hands he had on Stiles' hips to help keep him upright sliding under his shirt. "Arms up."
Stiles sighs, but tries to do as he's told, letting his arms fall limply by his sides as soon as Derek gets his shirt up over his head and off.
He's tired but he's still aware enough of himself and what's happening, so when he sees Derek falling down on his knees in front of him so he can undo his belt and unbutton his pants, he can't really help the way his dick twitches in interest.
Derek notices it, too, after he tugs Stiles' pants and underwear down, helping him step off of them, with the way his face is level with Stiles' crotch.
He doesn't do anything about it, though, not right then. Instead he just looks up at Stiles from under his lashes and raises an eyebrow, saying, "I thought you were tired."
Stiles shrugs. "I guess I'm never too tired for you."
From: Erica
All of you Hale House. 7:30pm. This Friday. Don't make me come get you. Don't make me wait for you. Don't tell Boyd. Or Talia will make you regret it.
Stiles never, in a million years, thought the the reason why Erica would want everyone one of her friends was because-
Well, he just didn't.
Which kind of makes him doubt himself a little bit, because looking back on it, it's kind of obvious this was going to happen.
Because ever since Stiles had the pleasure of meeting Derek's friends, he knew Erica and Boyd were amazing together.
So all of this really shouldn't be that surprising to him.
Especially considering Erica is the one taking matters into her own hands and doing it.
Stiles' surprise still doesn't compare to what Derek must be feeling, though, because ever since they step foot into the backyard of his childhood house to see everything covered in white Christmas lights and paper lanterns and paper butterflies - while Erica stood in the middle of it all wearing a red strapless dress with a low neckline and that stopped just above her knees, her hair in a plait falling behind her back with little flowers woven into it, looking like the absolute goddess that she is -, he hasn't said a word.
Derek just-
Derek stares.
At everything.
But mostly at Erica.
His eyebrows are doing something complicated, though, twitching every couple of seconds like he can't quite come to terms with what's bound to happen tonight but at the same time couldn't be happier for two of his closest friends.
It says something about how often Stiles finds himself lost in the planes of Derek's face that he can get all of that just from Derek's eyebrow movements.
And Derek still refuses to believe they speak to him.
They must do to Erica, too, because when she sees them coming and gets no response from Derek when she gives them a nervous smile, she doesn't get mad.
She just wraps her arms around his waist and hugs him tight, tucking her head under his chin, her fingers curling into the back of his shirt.
Derek still doesn't open his mouth, but he hugs her back and kisses the top of her head and squeezes her arms in reassurance when she looks up at him, face pale and eyes big under the lights.
"I guess this is what you were planning, huh?" Stiles asks as she moves into him, her hair tickling his cheek.
"I thought at least you would figure it out," Erica rolls her eyes, grinning when Stiles pretends to look offended. "We all know Derek's oblivious to this stuff."
Derek frowns, huffing out an annoyed breath.
Stiles shakes his head at them, looking back at Erica and saying, "Boyd's a lucky man."
"Of course he is," Erica sniffs, and then says quietly, "Do you think he'll-"
"He will," Derek speaks for the first time, eyes warm and soft and fond and like he's absolutely sure about what he's talking. "He's been in love with you since the first time he saw you. Even I could tell. He's not going to let you go."
Erica's eyes fill with tears at the same time a beaming smile spreads across her face, and Stiles has to look away as he feels Derek's words slam straight into his chest.
Because that's kind of like it's been for him, with Derek.
One look and Stiles knew that he didn't want to let Derek walk away from him.
Stiles is the one falling quiet this time, after wishing Erica luck when Talia came to speak to her, him and Derek walking up to where the others are standing tree line, on the left side of the house.
"I can't believe she's really doing this," Laura sighs, staring after Erica and her mom with a small smile on her face.
"It's Erica," Isaac shrugs. "There was no way she was going to let Boyd be the one to do it."
"That's not what I meant."
"Laura's talking about how old she's getting," Cora offers, grinning when her sister glares at her.
"If I'm getting old, that means you're getting old," Laura hisses, pointing a finger at her.
"But I'll still be younger than you," Cora sticks her tongue out at her.
"Girls," Peter appears behind them, startling Stiles.
He figured he'd be used to Hales lurking around already, but apparently not.
"Peter," Laura and Cora say, trying to look innocent.
"Let's try not to ruin tonight for Erica," Peter says, eyes glinting dangerously. "I'd hate to have to do something about it."
Laura and Cora twist their faces in mirror expressions of disgust, but they don't argue with him.
"Your uncle is so creepy," Stiles comments after Peter walks away with a pleased smirk. "So, so creepy."
Derek, Laura, and Cora all shrug, and Isaac just gives him a look as if to say what can you do? when Stiles glances at him.
"Where's Alex?" Derek asks, changing the subject to something that should to make Laura a little happier.
Should being the key-word, because as soon as Derek says his name, Laura's face falls.
"He's at the hospital," Laura says, lips turned down. "He has a double shift. I should be seeing him… Well, in a few days."
Derek reaches out a hand and tugs at Laura's hair once, looking from her to Stiles and back again as if saying he understands.
Stiles hip checks him for it, wrapping an arm around Derek's waist and resting his hand flat on Derek's stomach when Derek throws an arm around his shoulders.
"Do we know how much longer it'll be until Boyd gets here?" Stiles asks them.
"Don't get your panties in a twist, Stilinski. Lydia will be here with him in about fifteen minutes."
Stiles doesn't startle again.
Really.
He doesn't.
He's just caught completely off guard about having Jackson, of all people, standing there.
In the middle of Derek's mother's backyard.
"What are you doing here?" Stiles blurts out, and at the pointed look on Jackson's face he stops to think about what he asked.
Because, right.
For some reason, Jackson and Erica are really close friends.
And if his memory serves, he was also one of the people Erica was sneaking around with when she was planning all of this.
"Jackson was one of the people who helped Erica put the lights on the trees," Isaac offers, grinning. "She made him climb them and everything."
Stiles laughs when Jackson scoffs and walks away from them, affronted, just like he always looks when someone makes a big deal of how much of a nice person he can be.
On occasion.
For very few people.
Erica being one of them, clearly.
It still weirds him out a bit to see Jackson resting a hand on Erica's shoulder, though, and saying something to her that calms her down a lot more than whatever it was Derek's mom was telling her.
The fifteen minutes until they hear Lydia's car up the drive away pass in a blink, with Jackson, Talia, and Peter joining them as they all wait for Boyd to arrive.
And to Stiles' delight, Jackson takes his phone out, setting it to video, and starts filming everything.
So he doesn't miss Lydia opening the back door and stepping outside, Boyd following behind her, only to freeze, mouth parted in surprise, when he sees what's waiting for him.
When he sees Erica.
Lydia nudges him forward with a hand on his back, smiling softly when Boyd starts walking again, step by careful step, until he's standing in front of Erica, his gaze locked with hers.
Stiles doesn't think he's ever seen that much showing on Boyd's face, his surprise, his love for Erica, his hesitancy to really believe she did all of this, that this is happening.
And Erica looks nervous and shy in a way Stiles never thought she could, a far cry away from the woman with sharp smiles for everyone she always appears to be.
It kind of makes his stomach swoop, seeing them like this, knowing the moment Boyd stepping outside was the moment Erica had eyes for no one but him, and vice-versa.
It makes him tighten the grip he has on Derek's hand, lean in closer to him, wish someday that could be them.
They don't hear her when Erica starts speaking, being a little too far away to catch the words she says as she looks up at Boyd, her hands on his chest, her eyes bright and shiny with unshed tears.
She still has a soft smile on her lips, though, that only trembles slightly when Boyd's hands come up to her waist, pulling her close, his surprised expression from before turning into a reflection of hers, showing love and happiness and and a little bit of impatience as he waits for her to get to the question.
To get to the point where she asks him if he wants to spend the rest of his life with her, as her husband.
And when she does, when she asks, when she asks and and Boyd just stares at her for a second or two before his entire face breaks into a smile and he picks her up and swirls her around and Erica laughs and cries at the same time and yells out at the top of her lungs Boyd's marrying me-
Stiles runs along when everyone gathers around them, his smile so wide his cheeks are hurting, and they all get lost in hugs and congratulations and in wiping away Erica's tears and being a little surprised at seeing Boyd smile so much.
Soon enough there are folding chairs and tables around the yard, Derek's mom and Peter bringing out food and drinks, all of them sitting around and laughing and celebrating the engagement.
Jackson seems to be having fun with his camera, taking pictures left and right, and promising Erica to pass it all to her later, especially the video of her proposing.
Talia extends an invitation for everyone to grab a room at the house and spend the night, something all of them but Lydia and Jackson, who leave early because Lydia has a shift at the hospital in the morning and she's Jackson's ride, accept without arguing.
Unsurprisingly, after a few hours, Erica and Boyd are the first ones to go inside, their arms wrapped around each other and heads ducked low as they talk in hushed tones and laugh quietly as they make their way inside.
They all take their time to follow them in, knowing it's best if the couple has a couple of hours alone at the house.
Stiles and Derek walk to Derek's old room in silence, hand in hand, both of them pleasantly warm from the booze and food they had downstairs.
Stiles is the one to fall face down on the bed first, wiggling around until he's comfortable, and completely ignoring Derek when his boyfriend tells him to get undressed.
Which kind of works in his favor, considering Derek takes matter into his own hands and gets Stiles rid of his shoes and pants, his hands sliding up Stiles back, bunching up his shirt under his arms and making him shiver.
Stiles helps after that, taking his own shirt off and turning on his side so he can watch Derek taking his clothes off, his mouth drying and stomach flipping at the ripple of muscles beneath Derek's skin whenever he moves.
"You really didn't know Erica was going to propose?" Stiles asks once Derek gets into bed beside him, immediately throwing an arm around Stiles' waist and tangling their legs together.
"I didn't," Derek says, rubbing his cheek into the pillow, his breath ghosting over Stiles' lips. "They've been together for a while, so I never thought- They knew what they had, so I guess I thought they just didn't think it was important to put a ring on it."
"How long? Have they been together?"
"About eight years or so," Derek tells him. "Erica used to come around the garage to watch- To watch my dad work, back in New York. That's how I met her. She didn't really have a good relationship with her parents, so spending a lot of time at home wasn't an option for her. Dad let her hang around, and since he already had Isaac learning a few things from him he didn't think it'd be too much trouble teaching her, too. Not when she was that interested."
"And like she'd give him a choice," Stiles murmurs, smiling when Derek chuckles.
"Yeah," Derek breathes out. "I think I told you Boyd and I met because my dad told me to take cooking classes? So whenever he had a new recipe he wanted to try, I'd always end up being the one to taste-test it. That's how he and Erica met. He stopped by the garage one day with something for me to eat and she was there. Erica hit on him. I think that was the first time I saw Boyd looking flustered."
Stiles' smile widens at the thought, teeth showing, eyes crinkled at the corners. "So you've all known each other for a really long time"
"I guess. I've known Isaac longer than Erica and Boyd," Derek says, rubbing his foot against Stiles' ankle. "And that's kind of the reason why I thought Erica and Boyd didn't really care about getting married. Because Cora and Isaac have been together longer than the two of them and marriage is the last thing on their mind."
Stiles makes a humming sound at the back of his throat, trailing a hand up Derek's arm until he can rest it against the side of his neck, fingers playing with his hair.
"Do you know how long we've been together?" Stiles asks him, licking his lips.
"It depends," Derek says slowly, eyes glinting, the tips of his ears going red.
And Stiles just knows Derek's going to say something sappy and so fucking adorable he won't know what to do with himself.
"On what?"
"When you start counting."
"Oh?" Stiles blinks. "When do you?"
Derek doesn't answer right away, the red on his ears getting deeper, his eyes sweeping over Stiles' face.
"March 31st," Derek says, and Stiles' heart almost stops. "Three days from now. That's when I start counting."
"That's the day we met," Stiles whispers, lips tugging up. "At the Egg Run."
Derek nods, shuffling closer to Stiles on the bed, their noses almost touching.
"I-," Derek stops, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. "You know- I already told you how you mean to me. And that I love you. And that a lot of things in my life wouldn't be the same if we didn't get paired up together that day, and not in a good way. Meeting you was a turning point for me, in a way. So that's why. So that's why I count the day we met and not our first date."
Stiles closes the distance between them, pressing their lips together, because meeting Derek was a turning point for him, too.
He never thought he'd be capable of loving someone that much after watching what his dad went through with his mom, watching her waste away in a hospital bed and lose a little bit of who she was, the person his dad fell in love with, every day that passed.
He never thought he'd be capable of letting someone get under his skin and dig their claws into his heart and make a home for themselves when he wasn't looking, because the person he loved most in the world, his mom, had to let go.
Not until Derek.
And Stiles takes this time to thank the heavens that he recognized that in Derek the first time he saw him, the potential that they could be amazing together, and didn't run from it but towards it.
Right into Derek's arms.
See? He can be sappy, too.
"So this is when we're going to celebrate our anniversary?" Stiles asks when he pulls back, a little breathless, his swollen lips pulled into a smile. "March 31st?"
"Looks like it," Derek says, hand squeezing Stiles' hip, returning Stiles' smile with one of his own. "Not that we're gonna have time to plan anything now."
Stiles hums, using his fingers tangled in Derek's hair to bring him close so he can steal a kiss. "Too bad Easter is in a different day every year. It'd be nice to be able to celebrate it at the Egg Run. You know, with you with whiskers on your face and your nose painted red, and me in a pink and white onesie with a fluffy tail. We could've made a tradition out of it!"
Derek snorts, his eyes crinkling at the corners when he smiles..
"I don't know," he says, rubbing their noses together. "Maybe one year it'll work out for us."
Maybe one year.
Because they'll still be together then.
"I love you, baby," Stiles tells him, voice cracking with the weight of his feelings for Derek.
"Me too, Bunny," Derek says, understanding, pulling Stiles over to him. "Me too."
a/n: the epilogue will be posted sometime between march 23rd and april 1st. and this is me giving you permission to send me messages and comments to make sure that happens. :D